Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Today's column is a mailbag dealing with more post-strike "When does my show come back?" questions. Of particular interest to this blog is this part:

"Rescue Me" will be back, but, like "24," not for a long time. FX ordered a 22-episode season (much longer than what the show has produced in the past), and the strike delayed the start of writing, figuring out the logistics, etc. FX says new episodes won't premiere until sometime in 2009.

(As for other FX shows, "Dirt" is back on Sunday; "The Riches" on March 18; "30 Days" sometime this summer; "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" sometime in summer or early fall; "The Shield" sometime after the end of the Summer Olympics or in the fall, and "Damages" in early '09.)

Alan, it doesn't make sense why "Rescue Me" would be delayed until 2009? Why not split it up? Each summer they do 13 episodes.

The problem is that they have to plan things out in an entirely different way to figure out how to do 22 episodes instead of 13, and they hadn't even started that before the strike began. By the time they actually finish the logistics work and start writing and then filming, the summer will have already begun, and since FX usually tries to only program one or two nights at a time and doesn't want shows airing opposite the Olympics, a lot of the upcoming windows (spring for Dirt and The Riches, fall for Shield and Always Sunny) are spoken for, '09 it is.

The good thing about The Shield returning late is that creator Shawn Ryan gets to edit the final eps himself, no matter what star Michael Chiklis told TV Guide about assumed that responsibility during the writers strike. But late summer seems to be out -- Ryan told me recently the show wouldn't be back until "at least" September.

Alan, do you know HBO's schedule after The Wire is done? I know John Adams takes up the next 6 weeks starting the Sunday after The Wire is done. I know 12 Miles of Bad Road has some episodes in the can. I don't think Big Love will be able to start in its usual June spot. I would imagine Entourage and Flight of the Concords wouldn't be able to start until late summer or early fall.

Taleena - I read an interview with Burn Notice's Exec. Producer who said the strike did not affect them at all and they would still be back. I assume that means it will be back, even if it is not official word from USA.

Wow, it's pretty telling to me to see how many FORMER "Rescue Me" fans there are.

I will come back, not because I want to punish myself, but I do remember when "Rescue Me" was brilliant and unlike some, my complaint was only this past season - the first 3 I enjoyed.

I try to come back to see if a show can return to glory.

As for "Prison Break", the ratings have been deservedly free falling. Why in God's name does FOX have to continue to beat this dead horse?

Let me guess, there will be a prison in the Middle East that manages to get all your favorite characters - Bellick, T-Bag, Sucre, Michael, Linc, & Mahone - into that prison by some sort of buried treasure/search for Sarah's head plotline.

"Prison Break" really screwed the pooch this season, but I would still watch to see if Michael does avenge Sarah's death at last (or at least rescues Sucre). After that, they need to cut and run. No spinoff; just let it be.

WOW, this is an old post. Not only is it premature but it surely was simply a rumor started by the columnist. Because this writers strike did not last long and from around the web, all sources tell me that Rescue Me will return this Summer. They were worried about fitting it in when between the old schedule and "The Shield's" final season. It seems they have that worked out for presumably this July. Not only that it is only 11 episodes instead of 13, with an additional 11 episodes probably not going to air until next year. (this I am not sure of.) But I am sure they will air Rescue Me's long awaited Season 5 this year to several other sources. This is the only source I have seen with a year delay to the show.

As far as the critics to last season of "Rescue Me". I feel the same way. But i am also a big fan of the show. The first three seasons were smash hits. The word is that Dennis Leary has said himself that they plan to come back strong this season. This is partially why they are making it into a 22 episode split double season.

Sounds good to me. If its anything as good as the first three seasons I am all for it. I am really interested on how they plan to make it their best season yet.